2011-2012

Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending Ranking Member

Issues

Campaign themes

On his 2012 campaign website, Kucinich outlined his policy platform and campaign themes. The following are selections from his platform:

Jobs and the Economy: "We have a critical opportunity to create jobs and restore our crumbling infrastructure in the creation of a new WPA - rebuilding America's roads, bridges, water systems, sewer systems, mass transit systems, hospitals, universities, libraries and more with an eco-sustainable focus. In the WGA, Works Green Administration, government will become an engine for sustainability and environmental restoration. We can create millions of new jobs incentivizing the designing, engineering, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of millions of wind and solar micro-technologies and insulation in tens of millions of American homes, businesses and industries, reducing our utility bills, our environmental impact and our reliance on carbon and nuclear-based energy."

War or Peace: "Dennis led the effort in challenging the Bush Administration's march toward war in Iraq and its policy of invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. He organized a strongly bipartisan effort to try to stop the unconstitutional, unwanted, expensive war of choice in Libya. Of all the Democratic and Republican attempts to end the war, Dennis’ amendment got the most votes, coming within a handful of votes from passing."

Campaign Finance Reform: "The great challenge before us today is whether we can maintain a government of the people, by the people and for the people, or whether we will timidly accept the economic, social, and political consequences of a government of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations... To save our democracy, we must turn to the document that established it. Let us renew the Constitution by amending it, requiring public financing to redeem from the perishable fires of corporate control an imperishable government of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Kucinich voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[4]

Debates

February 4, 2012

On Saturday, February 4, candidates Kaptur, Kucinich, Veysey, and Kraus participated in a debate held at Sandusky's Ebenezer Baptist Church. The debate was hosted by the NAACP. Coverage of the debate can be found here.

February 13, 2012

On Monday, February 13, Democratic candidates Kaptur, Kucinich, and Veysey participated in a debate for Time Warner Cable's Northeast Ohio Network. Coverage of the debate can be found here.

February 20, 2012

On Monday, February 20, Democratic candidates Kaptur, Kucinich, and Veysey participated in a debate hosted by the City Club of Cleveland. Coverage of the debate can be found here. Full audio of the debate can be found here.

February 22, 2012

On Wednesday, Democratic candidates Kaptur, Kucinich, and Veysey participated in a debate hosted by the Coalition for Hispanic/Latino Issues & Progress (CHIP). Full video of the debate can be found here.

February 23, 2012

On Thursday, February 23, the Sandusky Register hosted a debate featuring the District 9 Democratic candidates. Full video of the debate can be found here.

Polls

Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Kaptur has released a radio ad citing Kucinich's praise for former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora. Dimora is currently facing federal racketeering charges. Kucinich has called the ad, "despicable in its dishonesty and innuendo." Further coverage of the ad can be found here.

Kucinich accuses Kaptur of sign theft

Kucinich has accused the Kaptur campaign of an "aggressive, illegal sign removal operation" targeting his supporter's yard signs. Kaptur's campaign has called the allegations, "silly." Further coverage of the sign allegations can be found here.

Analysis

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Kucinich paid his congressional staff a total of $1,179,923 in 2011. Overall, Ohio ranked 30th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[19]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Kucinich's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $251,005 to $518,000. That averages to $384,502, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic House members in 2011 of $5,107,874. His average net worth increased by 1047.66% from 2010.[20]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Kucinich's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $4,007 to $63,000. This averages out to $33,503.50 which was lower than the average net worth of Democrats in 2010 of $4,465,875.[21]

National Journal vote ratings

2012

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Kucinich ranked 72nd in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.[22]

2011

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Kucinich was tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives ranking 43rd in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.[23]

Percentage voting with party

Dennis J. Kucinich voted with the Democratic Party 89.4% of the time, which ranked 150 among the 192 House Democratic members as of November 2011.[24]

Personal

Kucinich was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946. Kucinich was the oldest of seven children. He attended Catholic school for his primary and secondary education. He attended Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 1973 with a BA in Speech Communication and in 1974 with an MA in the same field. In 1977, Kucinich was elected mayor of Cleveland and served until 1979. He served as a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1995-1996 and as a member of the US House from 1997 until 2013.[25][26]

Kucinich has been married three times and is currently married to Elizabeth Kucinich. Prior to his present marriage, he was also married to Helen Kucinich and Sandra Lee McCarthy. He has one daughter, Jacqueline Kucinich. Jaqueline was born to Kucinich and Sandra Lee McCarthy.[27]